National Flying Club Committee Meeting held on Wednesday 4^th February, 2008

at the Alveley Sports & Social Club, Alveley, Shropshire.

Mr. P. Pym; Mr. P. Naum; Mr. M. McGrevy; Mr. P. Bennett; Mr. P. Clements; Mr. P. Gilbert; Mr. E. Froggatt; Mr. F. J. Sharman; Mr. W. Morris; Mr. S. Dangerfield; Mr. R. Scriven; Mr. E. Watkins; Mr. J. K. Edwards; Mr. R. King; Mr. J. R. Sutton; Mr. G. Hilson; Mr. S. Redfern:

Also attending was: Mr. R. Crook, Press Officer, Mrs. D. Kneller, Presentation Event Organiser,

Apologies

Apologies were received from Mr. M. Gilbert; Mr. E. Kelly; Mr. P. Wells; Mr. T. Harris;

Mr. J. Tyreman; Mr. S. A. Pollitt:

The Chairman opened the meeting at 9.30 a.m.

Our President Mr. F. J. Sharman welcomed the new committee members and the new press officer and thanked all those who helped on the trade stand at the Blackpool show.

It was proposed by Mr. S. Dangerfield and seconded by Mr. F. Sharman to give a vote of thanks to those committee members who helped on the trade stand at the Blackpool show. .

It was proposed by Mr. J. K. Edwards and seconded by Mr. W. Morris to accept the minutes as a true record. This was carried.

The new press officer Ron Crook will carry out his duties for £1000 which is a saving of £500 a year compared to the previous press officer fee.

Mr. J. Tyreman has been in contact with Mr. S. Appleby (weather reports) and matters were in hand.

Mr. J. R. Sutton will contact Versele-Laga to confirm their sponsorship.

The Chairman read out the following correspondence: -

a) An e-mail from A. & T. Bury re the splitting of Section E. This correspondence was replied to explaining the procedure taken. This correspondence was noted.

b) An e-mail from Mr. T. Harris regarding being notified of liberations by mobile phone text. This correspondence was noted.

c) A letter from Mr. E. Ilsley regarding a number of points of improvement at the presentation etc. This letter was noted.

d) A letter from Mr. M. Staddon regarding the race program. This letter was noted and will be read out fully under Race Program on the agenda.

e) A letter from Spracklen & Thomas regarding the race program. This letter was noted.

f) A letter from Mr. J. Rattledge regarding rings etc. This letter was noted.

g) An e-mail from Mr. M. Gilbert regarding an offer from Yvan Eeckhout, Secretary of the Entente Belge. This e-mail was noted and will be read out fully under Race Program on the agenda.

The Chairman read out the letter from Mr. M. Staddon regarding the race program. The Chairman informed the meeting of the phone calls etc.

Fouges 23^rd May £3.50 per bird

Cholet 6^th June £3.50 per bird

If Cholet is not available St Nazaire will take its place £3.50 per bird

Messac 20^th June £3.50 per bird

Tarbes Grand National 3^rd July £6.00 per bird

Saintes 25^th July £5.00 per bird

Young Bird & Old Hens

Fougeres 5^th Sept £3.50 per bird

Regarding the e-mail from Mr. M. Gilbert and the Entente Belge, the chairman informed the meeting of the offer. Mr. M. McGrevy felt that the committee should place a referendum at the end of the year for the general membership to vote for or against to give the committee direction.

It was proposed by Mr. S. Dangerfield and seconded by Mr. P. Bennett to place a referendum at the end of the year for the membership to give their feeling on whether or not to compete in the Tarbes International. This was carried.

You will be able to use your own club as a clock station this season.

Full instructions will be in your handbook.

1) R.P.R.A. rule regarding number of present members very, very important

2) Recorded delivery, posting of clock envelopes ect.

Although these Club Clock Stations will be of use to members that are a long way from official marking stations I would strongly urge members to us the main marking stations. If nothing else you will meet many of your competitors which makes a real day out of it. I am sure that the club marking stations will be fine but can you imagine if one of club making stations get it wrong and you miss out on winning a National. I don’t think I could live with that so I will be making my way to one of the official stations

a) Mr. P. Naum informed the meeting of the Brian Long Trust and passed an information sheet out explaining the trust in detail.

b) After a couple of queries Mr. R. King informed the meeting that his queries were now answered.

It was noted after these queries that a new nominal code / heading on the accounts will be set up for the maintenance of the transporters.

c) The committee was informed that the Brian Long Trust documents have been copied to the Secretary.

d) Mr. P. Clements stated that on behalf of the committee he would like to thank Mr. P. Naum, Honorary Treasurer for the work he has put in here, the Chairman stated he is doing a very good job.

a) Mr. P. Naum informed the committee on various points on the accounts.

b) Mr. R. King asked questions which were answered by the Honorary Treasurer on the accounts.

Mr. P. Bennett questioned the sending out of the accounts. The Chairman informed the meeting of the correct procedure being taken.

c) The Treasurer informed the meeting that our current accountant is standing down. The Treasurer will seek out a new accountant in his area.

Mr. R. King questioned Page 5 charges for Exeter marking station. An explanation was given by Mr. P. Naum, marking station I/c. It was noted that these costs will be looked at to reduce in the future.

It was proposed by Mr. P. Clements and seconded by Mr. S. Dangerfield to give a vote of thanks to the treasurer for all his work on the B Long Trust and accounts.

a) It was noted that Mr. C. Gordon will guarantee the Messac National race Z pool nomination.

b) It was proposed by Mr. R. Scriven and seconded by Mr. P. Bennett that the Z Pool nominations will be guaranteed by the National Flying Club where sponsorship cannot be got and the bandwidth distances will be set per race. A note is to be placed in the handbook to state that the distance bands will alter pro rata if the race point changes.

The Sun City Million Dollar Race Sponsorship. Mr. J. R. Sutton informed the meeting that what they sponsored last year will carry on. Further sponsorship may be got in the near future. The Treasurer and the Secretary will try to get sponsorship from the Sun City Million Dollar people.

The Treasurer and the Press Officer to get together re setting up a Croddy Nomination. It was felt by some that a banding method of prizes be adopted for the N.F.C. for this Croddy Nomination. A report to inform the committee is to be put together for the next meeting.

It was proposed by Mr. R. King and seconded by Mr. W. Morris that the Young bird race will be supported by the profit from ring sales.

It was proposed by Mr. R. Scriven and seconded by Mr. E. Watkins to have a free 4 bird nom to give a cash prize of £600 per band (£1,800) split into 3 prizes, £300, £200, £100 per band for the Young Bird National.

Trophies

Mr. P. Naum informed the meeting that miniature trophies will be presented for the 2009 season for section winners only. Any member wishing to receive a miniature trophy for a cup will pay for these themselves.

It was noted that members discussed the presentation evening, possibly starting the evening earlier. This matter was left in abeyance.

It was noted that a letter is to be sent to Cornelia Long thanking her for the kind donation of trophies for the Section Winners for 2008.

Mr. E. Froggatt asked if there is anything in the book to direct members where to phone if there is a problem with the race verification lines. It was noted that we shall place a notice asking members to verify with a, or their section representation.

It was noted that Mr. T. Harris will be the new I/c of Great Shelford and Great Shelford will close at 10 o’clock. Any changes to making times etc., to be publicised in the fancy press and on our website.

Mr. R. King informed the meeting of a possible new marking station, a new market site between Frome and Exeter, Sedgemoor just outside of Bridgewater. The cost quoted was £75 per day use. The distance is 30 miles away from Frome and 45 miles away from Exeter. A lengthy discussion then took place. The conversation resulted with everything staying as it was with no changes happening.

It was highlighted that Frome has a problem for marking for the second race, and that a different venue may have to be used for this race. Mr. R. King will look at the problem and come back to the officials with what to publish in the handbook. New marking times for this race for Frome would be 12.00 to 15.00 hrs at Sedgemoor, if used.

Mr. J. Edwards informed the meeting of the costs of the transport and the quote from Boxhills and handed out some information sheets. After some discussion it was recommended to stay with Brian

Palmer Transport. It was proposed by Mr. R. Scriven and seconded by Mr. W. Morris to stay with Brian Palmer Transport. This was carried.

The Secretary will look in to getting a rail card for the Chief Convoyer Mr. Paul Pym to save costs.

It was proposed by Mr. E. Watkins and seconded by Mr. P. Naum to give the reserve convoyer who is also a driver, £15 or up to £20 per day.

Mr. J. E. Edwards informed the meeting that the troughs are in hand. It was noted that we would have troughs for every basket.

a) The presentation will be held on the 5^th December, 2009.

b) For the Chief Guest it was proposed by Mr. S. Dangerfield and seconded by Mr. P. Naum to invite

Mr. Bills, RPRA general Manager. This was carried.

c) Doreen Kneller informed the meeting regarding Southport which will seat approx. 250. A booking form was given to the Secretary for publication in the handbook. The cost of the meal would be £29.40 and the ticket price will remain as £35.00.

d) It was noted that the guests to invite and their gratuity from the National Flying Club will be: -

Mr. & Mrs. Carlo Napolitano

Mr. David Bills, RPRA General Manager

Fred & Doreen Kneller, Event Organiser

Mr. & Mrs. Ron Crook, Press Officer

Racing Pigeon

British Homing World

Bucktons Corn

Sun City Million Dollar Sponsors Mr. Pieter Oberholster

a) The presentation will take place at the Palace Hotel in Torquay on the 4^th December, 2010.

b )The 2011 presentation; Doreen has looked at Blackpool and specifically the Ritz / Hilton and the Imperial which has been provisionally booked. It was noted that general rule 30 has to be complied with.

a) It was proposed by Mr. R. King and seconded by Mr. W. Morris to have the Annual General Meeting a week after the prize presentation at the Gainsborough House Hotel, Kidderminster. This received 6 votes and was defeated.

b) It was proposed by Mr. J. R. Sutton and seconded by Mr. P. Bennett for the Annual General Meeting to remain on the same day as the prize presentation evening. This received 8 votes and was carried.

a) Re printing of the handbook. The Treasurer informed the meeting of all the quotes for printing from various printers throughout the country. The Treasurer informed the meeting that he would recommend a printer in this Country rather than the Chinese printer at this time.

It was proposed by Mr. P. Clements and seconded by Mr. J. Edwards to get the handbook printed with Polestar / Wheatons in Exeter. This was carried.

b) Mr. P. Naum informed the meeting of the advertisements gained for the handbook.

c) Mr. P. Naum informed the meeting that he would give Mr. P. O’Leary a free advert to receive a computer for a prize!

d) Mr. P. Naum informed the meeting that Bucktons would supply all the corn to cover all the races, more than the two tonne (80 bags) delivered last year and we shall give them a free advert in our handbook.

It was noted after Doreen Kneller asked to send out with the letter of invitation a booking form with the hotel rate asking them to book with the hotel a.s.a.p. It was noted that the Secretary will send the invitations this year!

Mr. S. Dangerfield informed the meeting about the presentation evening, and that the trophy job needs to be done correctly. A lengthy discussion took place regarding the trophy job.

A list of what we require for the trophy job is to be compiled, and is to be sent to Mr. P. Jolliffe and Mr. B. Cole and to ask both to quote for the job. It was noted that these quotes should be sent to the Chairman.

The matter was raised regarding a request for a mobile phone text of liberation service. This matter was noted.

The matter of co-opting members on to the committee was raised. It was clarified that we haven’t got a rule to co-opt on to the committee and therefore this cannot be done. A case was highlighted at region level.

Origo Stim Sponsorship. It was noted that these prizes from 2008 will be handed out at marking stations. Vouches will be posted from Origo Stim to the winners who shall claim them from the marking station I/c. (These prizes will be sent as one package to the transporter base to distribute to the marking stations.)

Mr. E. Watkins asked for the National Flying Club to give a £50 donation to the Alveley Social Club. This was carried.

It was noted that marking station workers should wear gloves in case of cutting their hands.

The Chairman closed the meeting at 13.55 hrs.

John has been a member of the National Flying Club some 39 years when he flew to a loft at Earlston Police Station in the Scottish Borders. The National Flying Club at that time had a few members in Scotland and his clock station was at Annan, Dumfriesshire, run by Walter Glendenning. Walter scored 172^nd Open Nantes, 10,000 plus birds and John remembers timing two great hens at 7.50am and 8.15am, second morning from Nantes, 584 miles into a North East wind. John couldn’t take his clock to Annan some 85 miles away due to being sent to deal with a serious accident, so he lost his positions which would have been near the tail end of the result. In 1972 John entered his good blue hen SU67SB5353 in the National Flying Clubs Pau Grand National race a distance of 884 miles. This race proved to be a hard one with storms and heavy rain en-route. At lunch time on the 5^th day, she arrived home – minus her rubbers. John telephoned Walter Glendenning who took the wing mark and confirmed the hens’ arrival with the secretary then Mr. C. W. Miller. The hen had previously flown the channel many times and was in good condition after flying 884 miles to Earlston Police Station. It is worth noting that in those days, John had to send his entries / birds by mail to Crewe marking so the hen spent often a week or more in the basket. John’s local paper, the Berwickshire News, ran the Pau hens story in the paper. (See Picture.)

John has progressed up the ranks within the National Flying Club and holds the office of Vice President. His work for the National Flying Club doesn’t go unnoticed, he is also Marking Station Officer in Charge at the Bell Inn, Chichester marking station and has spent a long time in pursuing companies for adverts in the National Flying Club handbook for the 2009 season to make it great success.